Tafsir of Maryam 19:2

A reminder of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zakariyya. This means that this is a reminder of Allah's mercy upon His servant Zakariyya. Yahya bin Ya`mar recited it, (

ذكر رحمة ربك عبده زكريا

) "He has reminded of your Lord's mercy to His servant Zakariyya.'' The word Zakariyya in the Ayah has been recited with elongation and also shortened. Both recitations are well-known. He was a great Prophet from the Prophets of the Children of Israel. In Sahih Al-Bukhari, it is recorded (that the Prophet said about Zakariyya) that He was a carpenter who used to eat from what he earned with his own hand through carpentry. Concerning Allah's statement,

إذ نادى ربه نداء خفيا